What is a DIY divorce?
Any divorce completed without using a lawyer.
So, what is the ideal scenario for the do-it-yourselfer?
Here’s an easy-to-use checklist. If you answer “yes” to
all these questions, then a DIY divorce should work for you.
- Are you
in agreement on all issues?
- Are you
satisfied that your spouse fully disclosed all his/her
assets and income?
- Are your
assets relatively simple?
- Are the
children (if any) adequately provided for, in terms of
custody, support and timesharing/visitation?
- Do you
believe the settlement is “fair and reasonable?”
I’ve answered “yes” to
these questions, now what?
You have several choices.
- Purchase
a state-specific book, if one is available. The $20 to
$30 is often a real bargain. Caveat: There are so-called “national
divorce books” allegedly good in all 50 states. The
editors at DivorceNet.com advise against these national books
because
divorce laws are highly state specific. One example of a state-specific book is "How to File for Divorce in Maryland," a comprehensive and valuable divorce resource.
- If you
feel confident enough to create your own agreement, and
are good at following instructions and filling out blank
forms, consider using uslegalforms.com in
conjunction with your state book. Forms usually run between
$25 and $50. DivorceNet’s
editors have worked with USLegalforms for nearly two years
and have not received a single complaint.
- Finally,
there is one high-end product ($249) offering on-line,
interactive document preparation. DivorceNet’s editors
are impressed with the ease and intuitive nature of completecase.com.
It is customized for most states and includes telephone
support. If you are not good with forms, or need that extra
bit of
help, it’s well worth the money.
If
you can’t
agree between yourselves, try using a mediator or lawyer.
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